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HBN Success Spotlight on
Alicia Grosso of Annabella and Company Creativity Collective
June 23, 2003 Member
Success Spotlights are one of the benefits of HBN membership. To learn more
about this and other HBN member benefits, click here. Introduction
To Annabella and Company Creativity Collective Alicia
Grosso of Annabella and Company Creativity Collective runs her part-time yet
very productive business in Culver City, California. By day (and often into
the night), Alicia is a senior lecturer in the University of Southern
California's School of Theatre, teaching various theater-related courses
including stage make-up and properties, directing and technical theater.
Alicia also directs one of the school shows each year and is a faculty
advisor for a number of student groups. As
if that's not enough for one woman, through Annabella and Company, Alicia
makes and sells cold process and hot process soaps,
salves, butters, balms, lotions, creams, lip balms, powders, scrubs, eye and
neck pillows and other products. From Avid Hobbyist to Small
Business Owner
Alicia started her business in 1995 after making
salves for her personal use and finding that her gardener friends kept
swiping her creations. Her financing was truly "homemade," coming
from income earned selling her crocheted handbags.
Alicia is truly a one-woman show. "I stay small
and do everything myself, which is the toughest part of the business. I
participate in a few sales events each year. My website has generated some private label accounts and I am delighted to be able to
supply a small but loyal customer base with lots of unique handmade gifts that they can give
to family and friends," says Alicia.
Annabella & Company's Best Selling Goodies & Future Plans
Alicia says that her best seller is the first product
she ever made: Bunny's Garden Soothing Salve. "People can't get enough
of it and a jar lasts forever," she says. "I sell it at a great
price so all these things make it sell itself ... over and over again."
Alicia's best selling soaps are lavender, oatmeal, Bunny's Garden Special
Gardener's Soap, Gaia, Passionate Purple PMS, and Patchouli Spice. Her
future plans include staying the course. "I'm doing so many
things," says Alicia. "I have to keep my business small and
manageable to make time for my writing and teaching. I am constantly
refining my manufacturing techniques and continue to experiment with scent,
color and aromatherapy.
Alicia's Advice To New Handmade Beauty
Businesses
Alicia's friendly advice to new
handmade beauty entrepreneurs is simple. She says that the keys to success
are "knowing exactly
what you are doing. Let your business grow out of your passion for the work.
You have to really love what you're doing. Avoid going at it the other way -
starting the business before you've ever made soap."
Benefits of HBN
Membership
Alicia is one of the most active members of HBN. She
says, " HBN has provided me with the most precious
commodity of all - information! The networking opportunities are great and the
access to suppliers and their discounts is very helpful for a small venture
on a budget"
Alicia and Annabella and Company Creativity
Collective at alicia@annabellaandcompany.com
and through their website at www.annabellaandcompany.com.
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